This Q&A is a supplement to our “In-Building Coverage for Public Safety Radio Networks: Efficient Methods for BDA Testing and Tracking” webinar from October 28, 2025. All questions are from actual webinar participants, but some questions have been edited for clarity, and similar questions have been combined.
If you need a refresher, you can view replays of our webinars and other videos here. If you have any further questions, or would like to schedule a training or demonstration, please contact us.
Q) Are slides of the webinar available?
A) Yes. You can download a PDF of the webinar slides here.
Q) What is the handbook that was referred to in during the webinar?
A) The Complete ERCES Handbook by the Safer Buildings Coalition is an invaluable resource. You can order a copy here.
Q) Do you have any plans for hands on commissioning test classes, where you actually get to complete all the tests Bradley went over in the webinar?
A) Yes, we do this with IWA and are working with the BDA vendors as well. See https://pctel.com/support/training/ps-training-events/ for a schedule of in-person events, which we update regularly as new dates and locations are confirmed. An online BDA commissioning test course will also be available soon. Watch your email for a future announcement.
Q) Is there a guide to all the apps you need to download to the tablet to use your solutions?
A) Contact sales if you need assistance.
Q) You mentioned that BDAs, buildings, test plans, and test results can be uploaded and shared with AHJs. Do the AHJs also need to be using SeeHawk?
A) AHJs and radio systems need a FREE SeeHawk® Central account to access information that’s been shared with them. SeeHawk® Touch is not required.
AHJs: request free SeeHawk® Central access here.
Radio Systems: request free access here.
Q) We have the PCTEL testing tool. How do we get access to Central and the commissioning reports?
A) Click here to contact sales.
Q) In grid-based coverage testing, what are the requirements for individual grid sizes and shapes?
A) Per NFPA 1225, grid sizes are to be no smaller than 20 feet by 20 feet, and no larger than 80 feet by 80 feet. Individual area grids should not be more than 25% longer on one side than the other. All areas should be approximately the same size within 10%. Individual jurisdictions may have different requirements.
Q) Can the grid method be used on tunnels? Any special recommendations or considerations?
A) Yes. You still need to adhere to the grid size limits, so if your tunnel is 20 feet wide your length would need to be no more than 25% longer, so 20 feet by 25 feet for the length. We recommend a grid with one single row or column, with critical points where needed.
Q) With the advent of new Public Safety radios that use different connection paths such as LTE and WiFi, how does that impact the need and type of BDA required?
A) All components would still need to adhere to NFPA 1225 rules on fire ratings, battery backup, survivability, testing, fire alarm tie in, UL2524 listing, etc. The AHJ ultimately is responsible for requiring the different technology types. The need for rigorous system design and maintenance remains.
Q) Is it possible to make the Critical Point symbol stand out better and easier to recognize?
A) Thank you for the feedback. We’ll look into the possibility updating the Critical Point symbol in a future release of our products.
Q) Does the BDA management feature distinguish between an antenna fed BDA and multiple fiber fed BDAs?
A) We will look into making improvements in a future release of SeeHawk® Central
Q) For annual tests of locations with a BDA installed, would a noise floor test with the BDA off and BDA on suffice? Or is there another recommended test for annual?
A) Here is the relevant section of NFPA 1225:
20.3.10.2.3 Periodic Testing of Systems.
20.3.10.2.3.1
All systems shall be operationally tested at least annually to confirm system operation during normal operations.
20.3.10.2.3.2
Annual operational tests shall include the following:
(1) At least one quantitative DAQ test shall be in accordance with 18.9.1 and 18.9.2 on each floor. Where the floor area exceeds 128,000 ft2 (11,900 m2), additional quantitative tests shall be performed.
(2) Signal boosters shall be tested to verify that the gain is the same as it was during the initial installation and acceptance or set to optimize the performance of the system.
(3) Backup batteries and power supplies shall be tested under load for a period of 1 hour.
(4) Other active components shall be checked to verify operation within the manufacturer’s published specifications.
(5) All required supervisory monitoring signals shall be tested.
(6) A spectrum analyzer or other suitable test equipment shall be utilized to ensure spurious oscillations are not being generated by the subject signal booster.
(7) Where a donor antenna is used, isolation in accordance with Section 18.10 shall be verified.
(8) An inspection shall be made to evaluate if the building structural changes or alternations that have been made impact the communications coverage of the system as required in Section 18.8.
Q) If/when signal is not of sufficient quality to be rebroadcast within the building, how do you suggest navigating the requirement by the AHJ to install a system? I would specifically reference the situation in City of Los Angeles.
A) Clean up the bad spectrum (extremely hard); for low signal levels, enhance the radio system or look for solutions other that BDAs.
Q) How do you select the outdoor location for performing Exterior Leakage Test?
A) The test is conducted around the entire perimeter of the building, not just in a single location.
Q) We had a new construction recently and and testing was done prior to buttoning up the building and no coverage issues were found. After the building was completed, whatever they added washed out one of our public safety radio bands.
A) Testing is to be completed at substantial completion. The test before the building is completed are intermediate and not viable to determine coverage enhancement is not needed.
Q) Does this tool create a graphic heat map over a floor plan?
A) SeeHawk® Touch adds a grid overlay to the floor plan with Pass/Fail and measurements in each grid area. Typically the term heat map is used to describe predictive models, which are not part of PCTEL’s solution. However, PCTEL test kits can be used to collect data that feeds into predictive models.
Q) Does this tool create a graphic heat map over a floor plan?
A) SeeHawk® Touch adds a grid overlay to the floor plan with Pass/Fail and measurements in each grid area. Typically the term heat map is used to describe predictive models, which are not part of PCTEL’s solution.
Q) For existing installations, what annual (or other time frames) tests can or should the AHJ require from building owners and maintenance contract holder?
A) From NFPA 1225 20.3.10: Weekly visually if the fire alarm is not monitored offsite, semi annually visually if the fire alarm is monitored offsite, annually to confirm normal operation, every five years shall be quantitatively tested and compared to the acceptance test.
Q) How does one see if an inbuilding system is needed during the design of a new structure? Doing this after construction is not practical as all finishes are in, building is built, and funding/schedule over.
A) Tests that fail in early phases indicate yes, BUT a best practice is to prepare for one then do not install if it is not needed.
